Hibiscus plant named &#39;Dave Fleming&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of winter hardy  Hibiscus  plant named “Dave Fleming” is the result of a unique hybridization. This new and distinct cultivar is characterized primarily to its novelty by, its extreme cold hardiness to Zone 4, large, thick-textured and very overlapping, reddish-cerise flowers and its floriferous nature from midsummer until frost.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The new plant of this invention is the result of a unique hybridization,with the breeding achievement being evidenced in the outstandingcombination of characteristics exhibited by this new and distinctHibiscus plant, which include:

(a) Refined, 3-5 lobed “oak to maple-shaped”leaves with a purple colorand relatively smooth margins which combined compliments the landscape;

(b) Medium-sized flowers that are outstanding for their brightreddish-pink colored, thick textured petals;

(c) The plant being very floriferous with flowers that stay open for atleast one full day;

(d) The plant being medium-sized but vigorous with compact and uniformbreaking action which gives it unique landscape utility; and

(e) The plant being so hardy that it can consistently withstand wintertemperatures of at least −30 degrees Fahrenheit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘Dave Fleming’ was the result of a 40-year breeding program. Itsancestry includes Hibiscus moscheutos and Hibiscus coccineus. Morespecifically, the plant resulted from multiple crossings with anunnamed, Fleming-bred Hibiscus moscheutos (non patented) and an unnamedFleming-bred Hibiscus coccineus (non patented). The seedling which mostnearly met all of the above standards was selected.

This new plant first bloomed in the summer of 1996 and was selected byDavid Fleming and Gretchen Zwetzig on David Fleming's property locatedin Lincoln, Nebr. Asexual propagation of the plant by cuttings and rootdivision in Lincoln, Nebr. has shown that the unique and distinguishingfeatures of the plant are faithfully transmitted from generation togeneration and appear to be fixed.

Since its origin, the plant has bloomed from midsummer until frost,while exhibiting the aforementioned distinctive characteristics. Thishardy Hibiscus plant greatly contributes to the market with its, sheerbeauty and utter refinement, its compact growth habit, its enhancedresistance to disease and insects, its stability through extremes inrain and drought, and its extreme hardiness.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The flower and foliage of the cultivar at 2½ years of age are shown inthe attached photographs. More specifically, the drawing is a semiclose-up of the flower and the leaf.

The colors are as true as is reasonably possible to attain inphotographic illustrations of this type. The colors illustrated may beslightly off due to light reflectance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

What follows is a detailed description of the new cultivar. The specificcolor descriptions are in accordance with The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, while general color recitations are consistentwith ordinary American terminology.

‘Dave Fleming’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. It is to be understood that the phenotype may varysignificantly with variations in the environment such as temperature,light intensity, humidity, and day length without, however anydifference in genotype of the plant. The following botanicalcharacteristics and observations are gathered from the plant when grownin Lincoln, Nebr. (USDA Zone 4).

-   The plant:    -   -   Parentage.—Seed Parent: Hibiscus moscheutos, unnamed and            unpatented Fleming-bred seedling. Pollen Parent: Hibiscus            coccineus, unnamed and unpatented Fleming-bred seedling.-   Comparison between observed plant and parents: Parents are similar    to Observed Plant, except for having slightly smaller (1″) flowers.-   Comparison between observed plant and other known cultivars: The    Observed Plant is unique, but most similar to Co-patent application    Ser. Nos. 12/317,167, 12/317,181, 12/317,182 and the other patented    hardy Hibiscus from Fleming's Flower Field, in that (a) they are all    more compact at 3 feet on average. (b) they are all hardy to −30    Fahrenheit. © they all have refined new leaf shapes. (d) they all    have thick, overlapping new flower colors with blooms from top to    bottom of the plants.    -   -   Origin.—A selected seedling from stated cross.        -   Type of plant.—Hardy, herbaceous perennial.        -   Classification.—Variety of hardy Hibiscus plant.        -   Propagation.—Relatively easy to propagate through cuttings;            holds its distinguishing characteristics through successive            cuttings and divisions.        -   Size.—about 2½-3½ feet tall and about 2½ feet wide.        -   Form.—Symmetrical annual growth from perennial roots.        -   Habit.—Upright and uniformly branched.        -   Growth.—Vigorous; medium and compact. Full grown (3 ft) in 2            years.        -   Hardiness.—Hardy to at least −30 degrees Fahrenheit.        -   General health.—Plant is very disease resistant against rot,            aphids, spider mites, scale, white fly etc.; sturdy through            excessive drought, rain or wind.        -   Propagation.—Relatively easy and fast rooting in            approximately 2 weeks.        -   Foliage.—1. Arrangement: Alternate. 2. Shape: Juvenile: 3-5            lobed “maple-shaped” leaves. Rounded base shape. Mature:            Refined, “maple-shaped” , 3-5 lobed leaf with entire to            mildly serrate margins and acute apices; rounded base. 3.            Size: Mature leaf (petiole base to apex): Length is about 6            inches or 16 cm, width is about 10 inches or 25.5 cm. 4.            Color: Young leaves (upper side): 147-A, (purple cast) A            little darker than 92-A. Mature leaves: (upper side): 147-A,            (purple cast) A little darker than 92-A. Veins: Between            147-A and 147-B. Venation pattern: Palmate. Color: 147-A and            -B. Coloration of the lower leaf surface: 147-B 5. Surface            texture: Upper. Smooth. Lower: Semi-smooth. 6. Petiole            length: About 2¾ inches or 6.5 cm. 7. Petiole color: 147-B.        -   Stems.—The stems are stout at the base becoming more slender            toward the apices; coloration is consistent with the            petiole.        -   Stem length.—2-3inches.        -   Diameter.—1-2 cm.        -   Internode length.—2″ on average.        -   Texture.—Semi-smooth.        -   Stem color.—147-A and 92-A (cast).-   The flower:    -   -   Blooming period.—Profuse from July until frost.        -   Flower diameter.—Medium; about 10-11 inches (24-27 cm).        -   Borne.—Singly in leaf axils, from midpoint of stems upward.        -   Bloom duration.—Individual bloom last at least one full day.        -   Form.—campanulate; petals are also very overlapping.        -   Average number of flowers per season.—300.        -   Bud.—1. Length: About 2¾ inches or (7 cm) on day before            opening. 2. Color: Between 60-A and 60-B. 3. Surface            texture: Semi-glabrous. 4. Duration: One to two weeks.        -   Corolla.—Having five petals. 1. Petal character and            dimensions: Campanulate and very overlapping. (a) Length:            About 5 inches or 12.5 cm. (b) Width: About 6½ inches or            16.5 cm. 2. Coloration: Bright reddish-pink. (a)            Reddish-pink petals: 58-A and 58-B. Coloration of lower            petal surface: A little lighter than 58-A. (b) Venation in            petals: 59-A. Venation pattern: Palmate. Color: 59-A. (c)            Eye zone: A little lighter than 46-A. Eye Zone size: 2¾            inches or (6 cm). 3. Texture: Smooth. 4. Substance:            Thick. 5. Shape: Campanulate and very overlapping.        -   Reproductive organs.—1. Staminal Column: Stamen along basal            two-thirds. Stamen length: About 1½ inches or (3.5 cm).            Stamen color: 67-A and 69-B. Pollen color: 162-A. 2. Style:            Terminates upper one-third of staminal column. Stigmatic            lobe color: 60-A.        -   Calyx.—Connate at the base; about 3½ inches or (8.5 cm) in            length. Color: Medium Green: 147-B.        -   Stipules.—None.        -   Epicalyx.—Whorl of bracts. 1. Shape: 10-12 slender,            sword-shaped bractlets. 2. Length : About 1¼ inches or (4.8            cm). 3. Color : 144-A.        -   Penduncle.—1. Length : About 1½ inches or (5 cm). 2.            Strength : Stiff and sturdy. 3. Color : Light to medium            green with slight reddish-purple cast.        -   Seeds.—Size: 1 cm.        -   Color.—Grey.        -   Average number.—Less than 100.-   General observations: This plant. As a hybridized hardy Hibiscus, is    valuable to the landscape market for its improvements in thicker    textured and brightly colored flowers and buds, refined “maple-like”    foliage with a purple color, its all-around vigor, good breaking    action, and adaptation to extreme environments, including the    ability to consistently survive winter temperatures of at least −30    degrees Fahrenheit.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of hardy Hibiscus plant, as herein shownand described, characterized by its compact nature, refined purplish“maple-shaped ” foliage of a purple coloration, its large brightreddish-pink flowers, its vigor and its hardiness.